If you are a new parent, it can be difficult to know when to let a newborn’s cold run its course and when to seek a doctor’s care. Typically, with an average of between seven and 15 colds a year, babies will bounce back on their own with just some care and love. In more severe cases, newborn hospital care in Summerville, SC, can help treat your new little one. Here are five signs you should contact a pediatrician about your newborn’s cold.

1. A Terrible Cough

One of the primary symptoms of colds at any age is a persistent cough. Even for newborns, coughing is a normal immune response to congestion in the throat and lungs. If your baby’s cough is so bad that it causes vomiting or inability to breath, you should seek a pediatrician’s assistance. Similarly, if a cough lasts longer than three days, your child might have something worse than a cold.

2. High Fever

Newborns are particularly susceptible to the negative effects that high fevers can cause on the human brain. For an oral temperature higher than 100.4, seek newborn hospital care in Summerville, SC, immediately.

3. Fasting

Nobody likes to eat when sick, including newborns. But, if your child’s cold symptoms are so severe that he or she is not eating, you should probably contact a pediatrician. Since newborns are so small, they can easily become dehydrated. To check for dehydration, make sure your baby is wetting a diaper at least every five hours or so.

4. Irregular Breathing

If your baby makes strange noises or has irregular breathing, you should consult with your child’s physician. This is particularly true if you are in an area with a whooping cough outbreak.

While this list isn’t comprehensive, if you see one of these four signs, you should seek newborn hospital care in Summerville, SC. Click here www.charlestonpalmettopediatrics.com for more details.